subject: Salt Lake City Toyota Matrix Dealerships Ready Drivers For Summer [print this page] Before you hit the road for the perfect family vacation, make sure your vehicle is as ready as you are. After all, this is supposed to be down time for you, not for your car. Dealers of the Salt Lake City Toyota Matrix have some excellent advice for travelers.
Since airfare is (pardon the pun) sky high for a family of four and flying doesnt allow stops at all those fun tourist traps and out-of-the-way delights, road trips have always been in with my family and on a recent trip half-way across the country to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, we were able to stop at all the fun things along the way.
Clark Griswold had nothing on us! We stopped at Wall Drug and saw a jackalope. We posed for cheesy pictures in front of the Corn Palace and substituted our heads for presidents at Mt. Rushmore. Thankfully, when we reached Yellowstone it wasnt closed, so we didnt have to rough up any park rangers Okay, I had a point here. Oh yeah, the car performed beautifully. From the hot plains to the cold, rainy mountains to a washboard dirt road with the most beautiful scenery imaginable not a glitch.
Im convinced a thorough checkup and even new tires on our vehicle made the difference. Customers of Salt Lake City used cars would do well to take the following advice before a road trip. Some things to look for from Rhodes and Dunlap to make sure your trip is spent having fun and not waiting for a vehicle repair:
-Get familiar with your owners manual and stick to the suggested maintenance schedules.
-If you dont know a carburetor from a lug nut and know that you have no business trying to maintain any moving parts, look for a reputable service center. Recommendations from friends are family are great, but if you dont have that look for a place with vehicles on the lot similar to your own in price and style. Make sure the service equipment is up-to-date, even if you have to ask and make sure there are certified technicians. They should have a certificate or something in the shop stating that their staff is qualified by ASE.
-Change (or have ) your oil and filter changed on the suggested schedule, using the specified weight of oil stated in the owners manual.
-Replace other filers on schedule (fuel, air, etc.).
-Correct any engine issues like rough idling, stalling or difficult starts. This will not only provide peace of mind but result in better mileage. Dealers of Salt Lake City used cars urge you to have this checked at your local dealer service center.
-Flush the cooling system and keep it filled according to the manual,
-Belts, hoses and clamps should be checked by a certified technician to ensure optimum function.
-Inspect lights and bulbs to be sure they are functional and replace any that are burned. Also be sure wiper blades fit snugly and do their job. You dont want to get stuck on a curvy, unfamiliar mountain road in a downpour with bad wipers. (We did it with good wipers and it wasnt fun!)
-Have your transmission checked periodically and keep fluids and oil changed to protect it. This is not a repair you want to deal with on a road trip! Your Salt Lake City Toyota Matrix can help you out with this.
-Get the air conditioner serviced! Be sure the coolant can do its job. You dont want to find out its low as you cross New Mexico in July.
-Tires should be checked and then properly inflated, rotated or replaced to get the safest, most comfortable and most fuel efficient ride.
-Dont forget to have fun. If you dont stay exactly on schedule, oh well! Stop at rest stops or parks and stretch. Toss a ball around and make the kids run so they have less energy to argue in the back seat. Take lots of pictures! (This one is from me, but Im sure Rhodes and Dunlap would agree with it!)
